Ribbon shifting and retaining mechanism.



No. 861,211. PATEN'IED JULY 23, 1907.

1 A. FUHLENDOKF & J. GROTHE.

RIBBON SHIFTIN G AND RETAINING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 00T- 30.1906.

llllllllllHl Ill-Ill! UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

ADOLPH FUHLENDORF AND JACOB GROTHE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TOWALTER W. RAMER, OF-NEW YORK, N. Y.

RIBBON SHIFTING- AND RETAINING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1907.

Application filed October 30, 1906. Serial No. 341,225.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that we, ADOLPH FUHLENDORF and JACOB GROTHE, citizens of theUnited States, residing at New York city, New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Ribbon Shifting and'RetainingMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to ribbon shifting and retaining mechanismfor typewriters and is directed to means for bringing any part of amulticolor or polychrome ribbon of a typewriter over the type thereofand retaining the ribbon in its shifted position.

In general terms the invention includes means for reciprocating theribbon guide of a typewriter and also means for retaining or locking theribbon guide in its shifted position.

One object of the invention is to produce a device which is extremelysimple in construction and operation and consequently may be cheaplyproduced.

A further object is to present a construction wherein the fewest partspossible consistent with efficient operation are contained, and afurther object is so to construct the invention that it may readily beattached to a typewriter, if need be by an inexperienced operator, andwork satisfactorily.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the preferred embodiment of theinvention, and in the drawing Figure 1 is a top plan view of atypewriting machine with part of the upper plate and the carriageremoved, and

having the ribbon shifting mechanism attached. Fig.

2 is a top plan view of the portion of the typewriter to which theshifting mechanism is attached, the latter in this figure being shown asshifted and held in its shifted I position. Fig. 3 is a side elevationalview of the improved ribbon shifting mechanism; and Fig. 4 is aperspective view of a slotted clamp employed in connection with theinvention.

Having reference to the drawing 1 represents the top plate of atypewriting machine, supplied with the usual shifting rod 2 and guiderod 3. Resting upon the bed plate 1 is the ribbon guide 4, which isdisplaceable horizontally within defined limits by the links 5 and 6,the former being mounted upon the post 7 and extending to a lug 8 uponthe lower face of the ribbon guide, and the link 6 being mounted upon apost 9 and being secured at 10 upon the lower face of the ribbon guide.It will be understood that the links at both ends are mounted to havepivotal action about their supports to permit of the ribbon guide beingeasily reciprocated. The elements so far described, while being adjunctsto our invention, are not comprised therein, but are present in alltypewriting machines of certain makes.

, It is the purpose of our invention to do away with in shifting ribbonsto bring any desired part of a polychrome ribbon over the type of atypewriting machine, and to this end we mount upon the post 9, abovereferred to, or at any other suitable place, a lever 11, which isbifurcated at one end and terminates in jaws 12, 13 which are heldtogether by the screw 14 or a similar retaining element. This leverserves to shift the ribbon guide and will be referred to as the shiftlever hereinafter.

Substantially intermediate its length the shift lever 11 is providedwith lugs 15 between which a second shorter lever (called the lockinglever) 16 is pivoted upon a pin 17. The lever 16 is preferably taperedat one end to form a wedge shaped point 18, which is made ofcasehardened material, and is designed to enter the slot 19 of a clamp20 which, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, may be snapped-upon thepost 21 or other convenient part of the machine. The clamp 20 isprovided with a small extension 22 which serves asa handle when mountingthe clamp upon the post. Between the arms of the levers 11 and 16 isprovided a small pin 23 encircled by a spiral spring 24 which has anormal tendency to press the lever 16 away from the lever 11 and thuscauses the forward end of the lever 16 to spring against the lever 11when the point 18 is released from the slot 19 in a manner hereinafterdescribed. It will be noted that the lever 11 is longer than the lever16 and extends a short distance beyond the end of the machine plate 1,to facilitate manipulation thereof by an operator.

Entering the side of the lever 11 is a set screw 25 surrounded by aspring 26 and carrying a knurled nut 26. The set screw 25 is provided toadjust the distance which the lever 11 need or may be moved to bringeither the part 27 or the part 28 of the typewriter ribbon over thetype, it being assumed that the two parts of the ribbon are of differentcolors.

In securing the attachment to the machine the jaws 12 and 13 are placedabout the post 9. The screw 14 is then tightened sufficiently to holdthe lever 11 in place but is not screwed home. The lever 16 is thenpulled outwards in a direction away from the machine until the point 18enters the slot 19. The proper relative positions of the levers havingthus been found the screw 14 is driven home. It will be understood thatthe knurled nut 26 regulates the area of colored. ribbon e. 9. thatdesignated 27, that is presented to the type. If the nut 26 is screwedclosely against the plate 1 of the machine, the ribbon guide 4 will havevery little backward movement in the direction of the shifting rod 2 andthus substantially the entire width of the ribbon part 27 will beavailable. Screwing the knurled nut 26 closer to the screw head of screw25 will give the lever 11 greater range of movement and consequentlynarrow the available working space of I ribbon part 27, of course,however, always leaving enough to span the width of one letter when themechanism is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The operation of the invention which is very simple is asfollows:Assuming that 28 represents an ordinary black or blue ribbon andthe operator desires to bring out a word or sentence for example in red,she presses upon lever 16 until point 18 drops into slot l9, wherebyribbon, part 27, which may be assumed to be red,-is brought over thetype and while the operator is writing, the red part of the ribbon isfirmly, retained in the invention is extremely simple, easy ofattachment andoperation and is very positive in action.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is z- 1. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination of a ribbon guide, a shift lever adapted toreciprocate the same, a locking lever associated with and pivoted atanintermediate point of said shift lever and a spring clamp for retainingsaid locking lever after the ribbon'guide has been reciprocated,substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a ribbonguide, a shift lever designed to reciprocate the same, a link extendingbetween said ribbonguide and shift lever and'having pivotal action ateachpoint of attachment, a locking lever united with said shift leverand being adaptcdto lock the ribbon guide in its shifted position, and aspring clampinto which the locking lever is adapted to enter,substantially as described.

3. In a device of the'character described, the combination'of a ribbonguide, a shift lever 'adapted to reciprocate the same, alocking leverhaving a tapered point integral therewith,- secured to said shift lever,and a spring clamp for engaging the tapered end of said locking lever,substantially as described.

4. In'a deviceof the character described, the combination of a ribbonguide, a shift lever adapted to reciprocate the same, means upon saidshift lever for limiting the range of movement of said ribbon guide, alocking lever pivoted at a point intermediate the ends of said shiftlever for retaining said riblion guide when shifted, and a spring clampinto which the end of said locking lever is adapted to enter,substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a ribbonguide, a post upon which a shift lever having a bifurcated end ismounted, a link connecting said ribbon guide and shift lover, a lockinglever pivoted to and movable in a horizontal plane with said shift leverfor retaining the ribbon guide when shifted, and a spring clamp intowhich the end of said locking lever is adapted to enter, substantiallyas described.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a ribbonguide, a shift lever adapted to reciprocate the same, a locking leverfor retaining said ribbon guide when shifted and means to engage saidlocking lever, said means comprising a spring clamp having a slot intowhich i the end-of said locking lever projects, substantiallyasdescribed.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a ribbonguide, a shift lever adapted to reciprocate the same, a locking leverpivoted between lugs extending from the shift lever for retaining theribbon guidewvhcn:

shifted, and means for limiting the range of-movement of said ribbonguide, said means comprising a screw entering the side of the shiftlever at right angles thereto, a knurled nut displaceable upon-the screwand a spring encircling the screw. substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a ribbonguide, a shift lever for operating said ribbon guide, a link connectingthe said lever and ribbon guide, a lOCklIigwldVOl' with said shift leverintermediate its ends, and a spring clamp for retaining said lockinglever when the ribbon guide has been shifted by means of said shiftlever, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a ribbonguide, a link attached near each edge of said guide, a shift leveradapted to reciprocate said guide horizontally,-one of said linksconnecting said shift lever with the said ribbon guide, a locking leverpivoted between lugs extending from the sides of said shift lever, aspring interposed between said levers. and having a normal tend-' encyto force the shorter end of said locking lever against said shift lever,means upon said shift lever for limiting the range of movement of saidribbon guide, and means for retaining said'locking lever when the ribbonguide has been shifted, said means comprisingla spring clamphaving ahandle and a slot therein, the end'of said lockinglever being adapted toenter the slot in said clamp, substantially.

as described.

' 10. In a device of the character described, the combination withatypewriter of 'a ribbon guide displaceable pivoted between lugs formedintegrally.

thereon horizontally, ashift lever fulcrumed to operatein a horizontalplane a link connected to and extending from the ribbon guide to thefulcrum of the shift lever, whereby the ribbon guide may be shifted bythe operation 'of said shift lever, and a spring clamp adapted toreceive the end of the lockinglever, substantially as described.

11. In a device of thecharacter described, thecombina-v tion with atypewriter of a ribbon guide displaceable horizontally upon the topplate thereof, a shift leverfulcrumed upon a post and adapted 'to havepivotal action thereabout in a horizontal plane, a link connectionbetween the ribbon guide and shift lever, a locking lever designed tolock the ribbon guide in shifted position, and a spring clamp adapted toreceive the end of the locking lever, substantially as described.

12. In a device of the-character described, the combination of'a shiftlever movable in a horizontal plane, a'ribbon guide operable through themedium of said shift lever a locking lever associated with, and movablein the same I plane as said shift lever, and a spring clamp adapted toreceive the end of saidlocking lever, substantially as-described.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of a shift.lever movable in-a horizontal plane, a post upon which the shift leveris fulcrumed, a ribbonguide, a

link extending from the ribbon guide to the post, a locking lever forretaining the ribbon'g'uide in shiftedposition after the same hasbeen'moved by the shift lever, and'a spring clamp adapted to receive theend of thelocking lever, substantially as described.

14. In a device of the character described,'the combination of ya shiftlever movable in a horizontal plane, a rib-' bon guide operable throughthe medium of said-shift lever,

a locking lever associated with, and movable in thesamcplane as, saidshift lever, and a slotted spring clampadapted to be engaged by thelocking lever when the ribbon guide has been shifted, substantiallyas-described.

15. In a device of the character desc1'ibed, the combina-'- tion with atypewriter, of a shift lever mounted on a postthereof, and adapted tomove in a horizontal plane, a ribbon guide, a link extending from theribbon guide to said post, means for limiting the range of movementof-the shift lever about its fulcrum, and a spring clamp adapted toreceive the end of'the lockinglever', substantially as described.

16. In a device of the character described; the combination with atypewriter, of a shift lever mounted on a post thereof, a ribbon guideoperable through the medium of said shift lever, a locking leverassociated with said shift tion with a typewriter of a shift levermovable in a horizontal plane, a ribbon guide operable through themedium of said shift lever, ears formed on said shift lever, a lockinglever pivoted in said ears and adapted to move in the same plane as theshift lever, and a spring clamp adapted to receive the end of saidlocking lever, substantially as described.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination with atypewriter of a shift lever movable in a horizontal plane, a ribbonguide operable through the medium of said shift lever, ears formed onsaid shift lever, a locking lever pivoted in said ears, a spring clampfor engaging said locking lever and a spring interposed between saidlevers and having a normal tendency to force the locking end of thelocking lever away from the engaging means, 15 substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures in presence of tWowitnesses.

ADOLPH FUHLENDORF. JACOB GROTI-IE.

Witnesses Or'ro MUNK, CLARISSA FRANCK.

